MONTEZUMA - Two Franklin Township residents may be the first in Mercer County to enroll in a 10-year program that protects their farmland from non-agricultural development.

The unidentified property owners recently applied for the Agricultural Security Areas program established in 2005 by the Department of Agriculture. They jointly seek to preserve 517 acres between Clover Four and Guadalupe roads. [More]

For the third consecutive year, services at Grand Lake St. Marys State Park will be discounted to draw visitors to the lake after three summers of algae blooms and water advisories.

Fees for campsites and cabins at the state park campground will be reduced by 25 percent. Shelterhouse rental will be reduced by 25 percent and private and state dock fees will be reduced 50 percent, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources announced Thursday. [More]

MINSTER - A strong defensive effort helped Minster give Fort Recovery its first Midwest Athletic Conference loss of the season as the Wildcats built a double-digit lead before settling for a 46-40 triumph.

The Wildcats improve to 10-2 on the season and 3-2 in the MAC while the Indians, ranked eighth in this week's Associated Press Division IV state poll, drop to 10-2 overall (4-1 MAC) with the loss. Minster's win over Fort Recovery leaves Marion Local as the lone unbeaten team in the MAC. [More]